In July 2012 seven year-old Mady lost her best friend, Meko, he was stolen during a family vacation. The vacation began with the family's usual bed time routines, Mady and her younger brother, Jayden, were tucked in with Meko close by their sides. The next morning when the family woke, Meko was missing. He was last seen leaving the campgrounds in an unidentified vehicle. The family was devastated and tried everything they could to find Meko. Their drive home to California was the worst, especially for Mady.

A few months later the family adopted Joey, a deaf Queensland Heeler. Joey is also special to Mady as she had started to feel sick at the beginning of 2013. On May 28, 2013 the family's lives forever changed. After doctors found a mass near her cerebellum Mady was diagnosed with brain cancer. With her family by her side, Mady has endured brain surgery, more than 30 radiation sessions and countless chemotherapy treatments. It was during one of those treatments that her mom, Dana, received a phone call from the Yavapai Humane Society (YHS). 375 miles and more than 16 months away from Mady, Meko was found wandering along the side of a busy highway in Prescott, Arizona. As luck would have it, Meko was brought to YHS where more than 30% of lost animals are reunited with their humans, compared to a national average of 15%. Upon his arrival, YHS found Meko's microchip via a scanner provided by a Petco Charities grant. Mady was about to experience a small miracle.

On November 12, 2013 the YHS staff delivered the best news Mady's family had received in over six months. Meko had been found. Mady and Jayden spent the next few days creating 'Welcome Home Meko' signs, digging up his old puppy blankets, and providing Joey with excited pats to celebrate Meko's homecoming. Mady was thrilled and her parents were relieved, the miracle of Meko's return gave them a renewed hope for the future.

Mady's father, James, drove to the YHS to bring Meko home. The long drive was fueled by his desire to bring some joy to his family, but especially for Mady. James was so impressed with the commitment of YHS staff to bring Meko home. Because of YHS' commitment, Meko's long journey ended with lots of hugs, kisses, happy tails, and two very happy children. Meko settled in right away and was back to sleeping with Mady that night. And even though Joey is about three times his size, Meko looks out for him and everywhere Meko goes Joey goes (alleviating yet another stress that the Mady's family had: keeping their deaf puppy safe).

After a long 16 months, we hope that there are more miracles for Mady and her family and that this holiday season will be a time for Mady's family to reflect upon the meaning of Meko's homecoming for one very tough little girl.